Composite corrective appliance for the foot



July 2, 1957 c. F. CRAWFORD 2,797,688

COMPOSITE CRRECTIVE APPLIANCE FOR THE FOOT Filed Jan. 8, 1954 ited ratesPatent Office 2,797,688 Patented July 2, 1957 COMPOSITE CORRECTIVEAPPLIANCE FOR THE FOOT Claud F. Crawford, Pasadena, Calif., assignor toThe Scholl Mfg. Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New YorkApplication January 8, 1954, Serial No. 402,939

4 Claims. (Cl. 12S-80) This invention relates to improvements in acomposite corrective appliance, and more particularly to an applianceperforming the double function of providing a cushioning support in aregion adjacent digits such as lingers or toes, and at the same timemaintain proper spacing between adjacent digits, the device being highlydesirable for application to the plantar surface of the human foot tocushion the region adjacent the metatarsal heads, and also maintain twoor more toes properly spaced, although the device may equally as well beapplied to the hand of a user, and may have other uses and purposes aswill be apparent to one skilled 1n the art.

In the past, many and various devices for -correcting crooked andoverlapped toes, which are frequently complicated or caused by bunionsand enlarged joints, have been provided. Likewise, various devices havebeen provided for cushioning the plantar surface of the foot in the ballregion thereof, or in the region around the metatarsal heads for thealleviation of callosities and similar aiilictions. Frequently, acrooked toe, especially when caused by a bunion or an enlarged joint,results in the acquisition of one or more callouses on the underside ofthe foot adjacent the metatarsal heads, and thus a patient needsalleviation for both alictions, which heretofore could only be providedby separate and independent instrumentalities.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instantinvention to provide a composite corrective appliance not only capableof cushioning an extremity of a body such as a hand or foot in theregion of the digit heads, but also designed to maintain adjacent digitsproperly separated.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a compositecorrective appliance capable of cushioning a body extremity adjacent thedigit heads, and also maintaining proper spacing between more than twoadjacent digits.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of acorrective appliance particularly desirable for cushioning the humanfoot in the region of the metatarsal heads, which device is equippedwith toe separating means that also maintain the cushioning portion ofthe device in proper position adjacent the foot.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of afoot cushioning appliance desirable for disposition beneath the foot inthe region of the metatarsal heads, said cushioning device having aforward projection thereon, which projection carries toe separatingmeans.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide a cushioning devicehighly desirable for use beneath the human foot in the region of themetatarsal heads, with a plurality of forward projections on the device,each projection carrying toe separating means thereon.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will becomeapparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan View of acorrective appliance embodying principles of the instant invention,incorporating a phantom showing of a part of the human foot toillustrate one use of the device;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the devicetaken substantially as indicated by the line II-II of Fig. l, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a still different form of the invention.

As shown on the drawings:

In that illustrated embodiment of the instant invention as seen in Figs.l and 2, there is shown a composite corrective appliance including acushioning body portion generally indicated by numeral 1. In theillustrated instance this body portion is generally ovate in shape, withthe longitudinal axis for substantially transverse dispositionrelatively to the human foot or to the hand, as the case may be. Whileit will be definitely understood that the instant invention may beapplied to a human hand as well as a human foot, for purposes of claritythe invention will be herein described in connection with the humanfoot.

The cushioning body part 1, as seen best in Fig. 2, preferably has aconcave-convex shape, with the concave surface uppermost so as toprovide a comfortably fitting cushioning element beneath the plantarsurface of the foot underneath a plurality of the metatarsal heads. Thedisposition of the device is shown in Fig. l with a phantom outline 2 ofthe foot, and the foot is presumed to be on top of the device.

The cushioning body part is preferably made up of superposed layers 3and 4 of foam latex or the equivalent. Preferably at least the undersideof the device or underface of the layer 4 is provided with a suitablecovering, which may be of fabric or any other suitable material. In theillustrated instance, this covering 5 is a thin smooth skin-likecovering of rubber, of the general character used in the preparation ofa dental dam. The upper layer 3 may or may not be provided with such acovering, as is found desirable in manufacture, and is preferably. secured to the lower layer in any suitable manner such as by acementitious material, exaggeratedly shown at 6 in Fig. 2. It will alsobe noted that the upper layer is preferably smaller in size than thelower layer so as to leave a margin of the lower layer exposed aroundthe upper layer, and thus eliminate a high abrupt edge contact of thecushioning device with the foot.

As seen best in Fig. l, there is a forward extension or projection 7integral with the body part 1 of the device, and more specificallyintegral with the lower layer 4 only. Firmly secured to this extension,adhesively or in any otherA suitable manner, is an upstanding `digitseparator 8 which, as seen in Fig. l, preferably has a wedge-like shapelongitudinally thereof, with the narrow end of the wedge adjacent thebody part 1. This toe separator may be made of foam latex, if desired,or any other suitable material, and is preferably somewhat stiffer thanthe soft cushioning body part 1.

As seen in Fig. 2, the sides of the separator 8 are preferably somewhatconcave in an upward `direction to provide an outwardly daring top asindicated at 9 so that the separator may be effectively locked between apair of adjacent digits or toes. Obviously the sides of the adjacenttoes will conform to the side contour of the separator, and the flaredtop will maintain the device in position between the toes, especially ifthe toes are overlapped or one of them is crooked.

It will be seen that when the device is located on a foot in the mannerindicated in Fig. 1, the toe separator 8 not only maintains therespective pair of toes properly spaced apart, but also holds the entiredevice in proper position on the foot of the user with the body part 1disposed beneath a plurality of metatarsal heads, or beneath the b-allof the foot. This holding action may be assisted by an article ofhosiery worn by the wearer of the device. It will be noted that whenproperly positioned, the corrective appliance affords a comfortablecushioning of the ball of the foot, alleviates callosities in thatregion, and at the same time maintains proper spacing between andadjacent pair of toes.

Now the projection 7 need not necessarily be located in the preciseposition shown in Fig. 1, but may be disposed in any desirable locationdepending upon the requirements of the user. shown a device having abody portion 1 of the same construction as above described. In thisinstance, however, the body portion has a pair of spaced forwardprojections or extensions 10 and 11, each of which is equipped with atoe separator 8. With this arrangement, one separator may be disposedbetween the large toe and second toe, while the other separator may bedisposed between the third and `fourth toes. Obviously, any suitablevariation or number of toe separators may be utilized.

In the event it is desirable to have a toe separator on each side of thesame toe, the more simple construction is that illustrated in Fig. 4.There', the same cushioning body part 1 is disclosed, but this body partor'more specifically the lower layer 4 is provided with a relativelywide forward extension 12 which 4carries a pair of spaced separators 8 8so that there is room for a single toe be tween the separators.

The operation of the structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is substantiallysimilar to that seen in Fig. 1, except there is an engagement with moredigits.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a compositecorrective appliance capable of performing the double function ofcushioning the ball of a foot or the palm portion of a hand, and at thesame time maintainingV proper separationl betweenv digits, such as toesor lingers. In addition, the digit separating means performs theadditional function of maintaining the en-- tire appliance in properposition upon the extremity of the user. Further, the device is simplein construction, may be laundered when desired, is highly durable, andeconomical to manufacture and use.

For example, in Fig. 3 I have It will be understood that modications andvariations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novelconcepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A composite corrective appliance, comprising a body part ofcushioning material to contact a body extremity behind the digits, arelatively narrow projection extending forwardly from said body part,and a digit separator connected to said projection, said body part andsaid separator being made of foam latex but the digit separator beingstiffer than said body part.

2. A composite foot correction appliance comprising a generally ovalbody part of cushioning material to underlie the ball of the foot behindthe toes with the long axis of the body part beneath the metatarsal archof the foot, an integral relatively narrow projection extendingforwardly from said body part, and an upstanding toe separator on saidprojection.

3. A composite foot correction appliance comprising a generally ovalbody part of cushioning material to underlie the ball of the foot behindthe toes with the long axis of the body part beneath the metatarsal archof the foot, an integral relatively narrow projection extendingforwardly yfrom said body part, and an upstanding toe separator on saidprojection, said toe separator also being of cushioning material butstiffer than said body part and said projection.

4. A composite foot correction appliance comprising a generally ovalbody part of cushioning material to underlie the ball of the foot behindthe toes with the long axis of the body part beneath the metatarsal archof the foot, an integral relatively narrow projection extendingforwardly from said body part, and an upstanding toe separator on saidprojection, said toe separator also being of cushioning material butstiffer than said body part and said projection, said body partcomprising two superposed layers of similar material with the stilerlayer slightly less in area than the lower to leave an exposed margin ofthe lower layer around the upper layer, and said pro jection extendingfrom the lower layer.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,080,305 schon Dec. 2, 1913 1,098,397 Pecorella June' 2', 19141,103,465 Arrowsmith July 14, 1914 1,129,670 Hardesty Feb. 23, 19152,506,308 Maynier May 2, 1950

